Job Advert
Development Chef
Join Our NPD Team at The Compleat Food Group!
We’re excited to offer an excellent opportunity for a Development Chef to join our dedicated NPD team in Middlesbrough.
About The Compleat Food Group
At The Compleat Food Group, we’re proud to be a food business built on purpose and passion. Formed in 2021, we’re on a mission to create Food to Feel Good – great quality, tasty and affordable food that people love to eat. We’re home to some of the UK’s most exciting and loved food brands, including Wall’s Pastry, Pork Farms, Wrights, The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co., unearthed, Vadasz, Squeaky Bean, Palace Culture and Harvey & Brockless. Alongside our branded portfolio, we’re a leading supplier of delicious own‑label pastry, sweet bakery, party food, olives and antipasti, added‑value egg products, continental meats, dips and sauces and plant‑based food to the UK’s major retailers and across foodservice. With over 6,000 talented colleagues across 17 sites and an annual turnover of £1.3bn, we’re united by a shared ambition to shape the future of food for the better. We are backed by European private equity firm PAI Partners.
Working Hours
Monday – Friday: 8am‑4pm
Location
Middlesbrough (Regular travel to our Milton Keynes site will be required, up to a maximum of 4 times per month)
Salary
£30,000 per annum
Job Purpose
The Development Chef works extremely closely with the wider NPD and Category teams to support the development and innovation plan at site. This is done across a multiple customer base for the chilled savoury fried food category. The role involves developing products with a strong drive in innovation, making samples, keeping the kitchen clean and tidy, and writing and costing recipes. Working in a collaborative manner with the wider development team and other key stakeholders to deliver profitable growth to the Compleat Food Group and its customers.
Key Duties, Responsibilities & Accountabilities
* Effective delivery of the business strategy and customer category plans as directed by the Development Chef &/or Development Controller/ Manager.
* Support in the site’s concept NPD/EPD agenda to required cost and within agreed timescales.
* Strong involvement in customer briefs.
* Deliver innovative concepts that translate into profitable products meeting market requirements.
* Drive food values for both site and wider business – visually, verbally and in displays.
* Interpret varying customer briefs to deliver innovative concepts that meet customer requirements for product style, QUID, key attributes, legislation, customer guidelines and brand values.
* Work with relevant NPD managers to interpret the brief and split the work between chef and technologist.
* Present concepts internally to site teams and lead senior management presentations when required.
* Work with purchasing to source new ingredients, prices, minimum order quantity and raw material specifications.
* Collaborate with procurement teams to provide finance with all relevant information for costings.
* Interpret costings and amend products to be commercially viable.
* Gather all information required for customer presentations including theoretical nutritional, photographs, benchmarks, product descriptions.
* Present products to customers and support NPD Managers & Development Manager in meetings.
* Confidently talk about current and future products; display products well and appropriately.
* Build recipes on the Point 74 Recipe Professor system or site finance recipe build documents.
* Lead and support site feasibility sessions with expert guidance.
* Manage workload with the site kitchen planner and communicate workload to the wider business and culinary function.
* Interpret theoretical nutritional results against guidelines and respond appropriately.
* Complete relevant benchmarking documentation and presentations for food shows/shops visited.
* Support continuous improvements and identify cost savings in production and ingredient potential.
* Value engineer ingredients, packaging and processes where required.
* Assist suppliers to provide process and ingredient improvement.
* Play a key role in driving innovation for site and wider group.
* Challenge factory processes.
* Identify new trends and maintain current products to deliver newness to the category.
* Involvement in blue‑sky activities including customer and supplier research.
* Review competitive market, comparative shop reports and relevant documentation.
* Support benchmarking panels and conduct them as required.
* Directional shopping for all sites within the group (shows, local markets, farm shops, restaurant reviews).
* Maintain awareness of new launches and competitors.
* Communicate with various teams as required by manager or projects.
* Organise and attend project meetings and panels.
* Use appropriate written and verbal communication with teams and members.
* Work as part of a team and not by customer head; projects may be split across multiple customers.
* Collaborate with development technologists and chefs; flexible across the team and may participate at other sites.
* Follow all H&S requirements during kitchen and process development work.
* Promote safe working across site and advise immediately on unsafe practices.
* May be required to carry out projects within the Compleat Food Group, which may require time at other sites.
* Perform general office duties.
* Support the organization of customer visits and promote strong business food values.
* Keep ahead on innovation and the market – communicate with the team.
* Complete necessary PDRs for any reports.
* May be required to cover weekends and night shifts.
* Work in line with the company’s development processes and procedures.
Experience
* Experience within a food development chef role (preferred).
* Strong food experience background.
* Restaurant experience preferred – Rosette +.
* Catering college qualification (not essential).
Key Skills
* Strong cookery skills with a flair for innovation.
* A valid driving licence is required.
* Organisation and planning.
* Communicating at different levels of seniority.
* Presentation skills.
* Basic computing skills.
* Team player but able to work independently.
Qualities
* A passion for food.
* Enthusiasm to learn and grow.
* Hard‑working and driven.
Why Join Us?
At The Compleat Food Group, we believe our people are the heart of our success. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your lifestyle, wellbeing and career growth.
Financial & Lifestyle Benefits
* Salary Sacrifice Schemes – Electric Vehicles, Home & Tech, Cycle to Work and SMART Pension.
* Annual leave (including bank holidays) with the option to purchase extra.
* Holiday discounts via our online retail platform.
* Access to enhanced retail discounts online and in‑store.
* Free product handouts across our sites, so you can sample and enjoy our delicious products first hand.
* EV charging points – available at selected sites.
Health & Wellbeing
* 24/7 access to Grocery Aid for free financial, emotional and practical support.
* Physical Wellbeing Hub – free on‑demand exercise classes, gym discounts.
* Free diet & nutrition advice with access to thousands of healthy recipes.
* Online wellbeing support – from mindfulness to lifestyle resources.
* Financial wellbeing tools – mortgage calculators, budgeting tools and financial aid.
Career Growth & Development
* Access to a personalised online learning platform (LMS).
* Formal and informal training opportunities tailored to your role.
* Performance Development Plans and regular Career Conversations.
* Company Mentoring Scheme to add depth and really support your career journey.
* Recognition through Club Compleat rewards.
Community & Culture
* 2 paid volunteering days per year to give back to causes that matter to you.
* Charity initiatives and fundraising events.
* Team socials to connect and celebrate together.
* Employee networks & support groups – including Women @ Compleat.
* New baby gift for new parents.
The Compleat Food Group fosters an inclusive, respectful culture where everyone feels safe, supported and valued. We welcome diverse talent, knowing it drives exceptional results and a better workplace. We are committed to fairness, equity, inclusivity and respect; we ensure all colleagues can thrive by bringing their whole selves to work. As an equal‑opportunity employer, we provide all the support you need to succeed. Contact us with any questions about diversity & inclusion or accessibility during the application process.
Recruitment Agencies
We have a small, active and trusted Preferred Supplier List to assist us if required. We do not acknowledge speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions. We only accept CV submissions for roles released to you directly by our Talent Acquisition team. If you would be interested in working with us, please send a message to recruitment@compleatfood.com and we will reach out if we need additional support with any roles.
#J-18808-Ljbffr